DOC chief stresses respect for officers
Employees rally for pay increases
By Bill Cotterell
DEMOCRAT POLITICAL EDITOR
Originally published March 15, 2006
The new head of Florida's scandal-ridden prison system told correctional officers Tuesday they have a reputation as "a rough crowd" but that he and Gov. Jeb Bush value their service and are committed to raising their salaries in the 2006 legislative session.
Jim McDonough, who took over the Department of Corrections when Bush ousted Secretary James Crosby last month, has fired some of Crosby's top associates and demoted or transferred some other prison officials. The department has been rocked by state and federal investigations into several types of corruption, including contracting irregularities, steroid distribution, theft of prison property and cronyism in hiring and promotion.
"There's been a lot of talk lately about what a rough crowd we are and about how we've made some mistakes," McDonough said. "Let me make no mistake - I am proud of what you do, and I'm proud to stand with you."
He said he will take "no bad talk about any of you. In my book, you are that thin red line of heroes when you put yourselves in harm's way."
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement released a report Tuesday that said Crosby tried to pressure Bradley Tunnell, son of FDLE Commissioner Guy Tunnell, to stifle an investigation of the prison system. The younger Tunnell worked in the prison system until last week, when he resigned rather than take a demotion McDonough ordered because of his involvement in a brawl in Jacksonville.
McDonough drew loud applause from more than 1,000 tan-uniformed prison employees as he stressed his respect for the rank-and-file troops of the state's largest agency.
Correctional officers, probation officers and institutional security service members wore lapel buttons emblazoned "It's Criminal To Pay Minimal" as they spread through Capitol hallways to lobby lawmakers. The Police Benevolent Association bused them in from institutions across the state, giving them a blue-bound "Rally In Tally" booklet with talking points and county-by-county lists of members they should see.
The PBA flexed its political muscle by summoning a long parade of state leaders to an hour-long rally in Waller Park, where they pledged support of a 4-percent pay raise the union is seeking. The PBA also wants 3-percent longevity raises for prison guards, probation officers and institution security service members at five and 10 years of continuous service.
"There's a reason that you've done better over the last umpteen years than the average state employees," David Murrell, executive director of the PBA, told the officers as he went down the lineup of speakers for the rally. "You have friends like these."
Sen. Nancy Argenziano, R-Dunnellon, whose Big Bend district includes several prisons, offered to give prison officers her home e-mail address and "go off the record" to hear concerns of any who feared reprisals from supervisors.
"It's really criminal that some of you are actually eligible for food stamps," she said.
Argenziano also said she will oppose any further privatization of the prison system. She heads the Senate Governmental Oversight and Productivity Committee.
"When it comes to outsourcing you guys - over my dead body," she said.
The PBA is locked in a political skirmish with the International Union of Police Associations, which represents most state police officers. The PBA has filed petitions with the Public Employees Relations Commission to replace IUPA as the bargaining agent for the police - just as IUPA took them away from the PBA six years ago - so both unions are trying to bring home pay raises and benefit improvements for their members in the legislative session.
House Speaker Allan Bense, R-Panama City, and Senate President Tom Lee, R-Brandon, told the officers the legislative leadership are behind them.
"We understand the concerns about pay, and I think you're going to like the budget we come up with in the Florida House," Bense said.
Sens. Walter Campbell, D-Fort Lauderdale, running for attorney general, and Rod Smith, D-Gainesville, a candidate for governor, said support of the prison officers crosses party lines.
"We have some folks working in our correctional institutions that are on Medicaid because you don't get paid enough," Campbell said. "That's wrong - that is totally wrong and something we as a state should be embarrassed about."
Lee, a candidate for chief financial officer, and Rep. Joe Negron of Stuart, a Republican candidate for attorney general, also promised to support raises and other benefits for correctional officers. Negron heads the House appropriations committee, which is developing the state budget, and Lee runs the Senate.
"We hear you loud and clear," Lee said.
ON THE WEB Comment »
Go to Tallahassee.com for video from Tuesday's rally.
Contact Bill Cotterell at (850) 671-6545 or bcotterell@tallahassee.com